SOLVING SUDOKU

What is sudoku?
You would imagine that with such a name this puzzle originated in Japan, but it has been around for many years in the UK. However, the Japanese found an example under the title Number Place in an American magazine and translated it as something quite different: su meaning number; doku which translates as single or bachelor. It immediately caught on in Japan, where number puzzles are much more prevalent than word puzzles. Crosswords dont work well in the Japanese language. The sudoku puzzle reached craze status in Japan in 2004 and the craze spread to the UK through the puzzle pages of national newspapers. The Daily Telegraph uses the name Sudoku, but you may see it called su doku elsewhere. However, there is no doubt that the word has been adopted into modern parlance, much like crossword. Sudoku is not a mathematical or arithmetical puzzle. It works just as well if the numbers are substituted with letters or some other symbols, but numbers work best.

by Michael Mepham
About guessing
Try not to. Until you have progressed to the tough and diabolical puzzles, guessing is not only totally unnecessary, but will lead you up paths that can make the puzzle virtually unsolvable. Simple logic is all that is required for gentle and moderate puzzles. Only a small proportion of my sudokus will require deep analysis, and that is dealt with later on in this introduction.

Making a start 1
To solve sudoku puzzles you will use logic. You will ask yourself questions like: if a 1 is in this box, will it go in this column? or if a 9 is already in this row, can a 9 go in this square? To make a start, look at each of the boxes and see which squares are empty, at the same time checking that squares column and row for a missing number. In this example, look at box 9. There is no 8 in the box, but there is an 8 in column 7 and in column 8. The only place for an 8 is in column 9, and in this box the only square available is in row 9. So put an 8 in that square. You have solved your rst number.

3 7 9 4 4 6 5

8 3 4 4 8 2 1 1 7 1
Crosswords Ltd, 2005 #5096

8 3

Here is an unsolved sudoku puzzle. It consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into 9 smaller grids of 3x3 squares. a logical 9 4 1 8 3 Each puzzle has To solveand unique solution. the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the 4 6 5 7 1 numbers 1 to 9. 7 Throughout this document I refer to the whole puzzle as the grid, a 1 2 5 3 9 small 3x3 grid as a box and the cell that contains the number as 7 2 4 a square. Rows and columns are referred to with row number rst, followed by the column number: 4,5 is row 4, column 5; 2,8 is row 2, column 8. Boxes are numbered 19 in reading order, i.e. 123, 456, 789.

3 7

8 3 4 4 8 2 1

The challenge

1 2 5 3 7 2 4

7 9
8

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#5096

Crosswords Ltd, 2005

3 7

8 3 4 4 8 2 1
8 8

2
Continuing to think about 8, there is no 8 in box 1, but you can see an 8 in rows 1 and 2. So, in box 1, an 8 can only go in row 3, but there are 2 squares available. Make a note of this by pencilling in a small 8 in both squares. Later, when we have found the position of the 8 in boxes 4 or 7 we will be able to disprove one of our 8s in box 1.

3 7

8 3 4 4 8 2 1
8 8

4
There is a similar situation with the 4s in boxes 4 and 5, but here the outcome is not so denite. Together with the 4 in column 7 these 4s eliminate all the available squares in box 6 apart from two. Pencil a small 4 in these two squares. Later on, one or other of your pencil marks will be proved or disproved.

9 4 4 6 5

1 7 1

8 3

9 4 4 6 5

1 7 1

8 3
4 4

Crosswords Ltd, 2005

#5096

3 7

8 3 4 4 8 2 1
8 8

3
We were looking at box 9. As you can see, there is a 2 in boxes 7 and 8, but none in box 9. The 2s in row 8 and row 9 mean the only place for a 2 in box 9 appears to be in row 7, and as there is already a 2 in column 8, there is only one square left in that box for a 2 to go. You can enter the 2 for box 9 at 7,7.

3 7

8 3 4 4 8 2 1
8 8

#5096

1 2 5 3 7 2 4

1 2 5 3 7 2 4

Crosswords Ltd, 2005

7 9

7 9

5
Having proved the 2 in box 9 earlier, check to see if this helps you to solve anything else. For example, the 2 in box 3 shows where the 2 should go in box 6: it can only go in column 9, where there are two available squares. As we have not yet proved the position of the 4, one of the squares may be either a 4 or a 2.

9 4 4 6 5

1 7 1

8 3

9 4 4 6 5

1
4

8 3
24 2
Crosswords Ltd, 2005 #5096

7 1
2

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#5096

1 2 5 3 7 2 4

Crosswords Ltd, 2005

7 9
8

1 2 5 3 7 2 4

7 9
8

3 7

8 3 4 4 8 2 1
8 8

6
Now solve a number on your own. Look at box 8 and see where the number 7 should go. Continue to solve the more obvious numbers. There will come a point when you will need to change your strategy. What follows will provide you with some schemes to solve the complete sudoku. The best way to learn how to solve sudoku is to practice. So Ive put this sudoku below. See how far you can get using the strategies Ive discussed so far.

The search for the lone number

Daily Telegraph easy sudoku puzzles are called gentle. This indicates a level of complexity that can be tackled by beginners and casual sudoku solvers. However, no matter what level of puzzle you are attempting, there are a few strategies that will allow you to get to a solution more quickly. The key strategy is to look for 3 5 678 4 1 the lone number. In this example, all the options for box 5 have 7 2 5 been pencilled in. There are three 178 squares where the number 1 5 2 6 might go, but look between the 8 6 5 9 3 8 and 3 there is a lone number 127 17 1. It was not otherwise obvious 3 4 8 that the only square for the 49 1469 1 1469 149 number 1 was row 6, column 5, 5 8 3 7 as there is no number 1 in the 1678 5 3 immediate vicinity. Checking the adjacent boxes and relevant row 6 9 5 1 and column would not provide an 1678 immediate answer either but no 9 4 2 5 other number can go in that box. While our example uses pencil 3 5 678 4 1 marks to illustrate the rule, more experienced solvers are quite 7 2 5 capable of doing this in their 78 head. 5 2 6 Remember that this principle is 8 6 5 9 3 true for boxes, rows and columns: 27 7 if there is only one place for a 3 4 8 number to go, then it is true for 469 49 5 8 1 3 7 49 469 that box, and also the row and 678 column it is in. You can eliminate 5 3 all the other pencilled 1s in the box, row and column. 6 9 5 1
#5335

9 4 4 6 5

1
4

8 3
24 2
Crosswords Ltd, 2005 #5096

7 1
2

1 2 5 3 7 2 4

7 9
8

3 7 9 4 4 6 5

8 3 4 4 8 2 1 1 7 1
Crosswords Ltd, 2005

8 3

Copyright 2005 Crosswords Ltd

#5096

1 2 5 3 7 2 4

7 9

9 4

678

2 5

Crosswords Ltd, 2005

#5335

Crosswords Ltd, 2005

Twins
Why limit yourself to one when sometimes two can do the job? In sudoku we can easily become blind to the obvious. You might look at a box and think there is no way of proving a number because it could go in more than one square, but there are times when the answer is staring you right in the face. Take the sudoku opposite. Its an example 5 4 9 7 2 of a gentle puzzle. The solver has made a good start at nding 4 the more obvious numbers, but 2 7 9 3 6 9 having just solved the 9 in box 4 8 7 4 shes thinking about solving the 9 in box 1. It seems impossible, with 7 1 9 4 8 just a 9 in row 1 and another in 4 7 5 9 column 2 that immediately affect 4 7 9 2 1 box 1. But look more carefully and 4 6 3 youll see that the 9 in row 8 9 in 2 9 3 4 7 precludes anythe 9row 8 of box 7. In addition, in column 2 eliminates the square to the right 3 1 4 6 of the 4 in that box, leaving just the two squares above and below 5 4 9 7 2 the 2 in box 7 available for the 9. Youve found a twin! 4 Pencil in these 9s. While you 2 7 3 6 dont know which of these two 9 8 7 4 will end up as 9 in this box, what 7 1 9 4 8 you do know is that the 9 has be in column 3. Therefore a 4 7 5 9 tocannot go in column 3 of box 9 4 7 9 2 1 1, leaving it the one available square in column 1. 9

Triplets
In the previous example, our solvers twins did just as well as a solved number in helping to nd her number. But if two unsolved squares can help you on your way, three solved numbers together certainly can. Look at the sequence 281 in row 8. It can help you solve the 7 in box 8. The 7s in columns 5 and 6 place the 7s in box 8 at either 8,4 or 9,4. It 4 6 is the 7 in row 7 that will provide 3 8 6 sufcient clues to make a choice. 3 9 7 2 Because there can be no more 7s in row 7, the 281 in row 8 forces the 7 in box 7 to be in 1 8 9 7 row 9. Although you dont know 9 1 which square it will be in, the unsolved trio will prove that no 5 3 7 2 more 7s will go in row 9, putting 6 8 4 7 our 7 in box 8 at row 8. A solved row or column of three squares 7 2 8 1 in a box is good news. Try the 7 7 7 7 same trick with the 386 in row 5 2 2 to see if this triplet helps to solve any more.

Eliminate the extraneous

We have looked at the basic number-nding strategies, but what if these are just not up to the job? Until now we have been casually pencilling in possible numbers, but there are many puzzles that will require you to be totally methodical in order to seek out and eliminate extraneous numbers. If you have come to a point where obvious clues have dried up, before moving into unknown territory and beginning bifurcation (more on that later), you should ensure that you have actually found all the numbers you can. The rst step towards achieving this is to pencil in all possible numbers in each square. It takes less time than youd think to rattle off can 1 go, can 2 go, can 3 go, etc., while checking for these numbers in the squares box, row and column. Now you should look for matching pairs or trios of numbers in each column, row and box. Youve seen matching pairs before: two squares in the same row, column or box that share a pair of numbers.

6 2 9 3 9 3 1 4

4 7 6

Copyright 2005 Crosswords Ltd

You can see what I mean in this illustration. In this row at column 1 there is a 1 8 and at column 6 there is also a 1 8. This matching pair is telling you that only either 1 or 8 is denitely at one or other of these locations. If that is true then neither of these numbers can be at any other location in that row. So you can eliminate the 1 and 8 in any other square of the row where they do not appear together. As you can see, this immediately solves the square at column 5. This rule can be applied to a row, column or box. The number-sharing rule can be taken a stage further. Say you have three squares in a row that share the numbers 3, 7 and 9 and only those numbers. They may look like 3 7, 3 9, 7 9 or 3 7, 3 9, 3 7 9 or even 3 7 9, 3 7 9, 3 7 9. In the same way as our pairs example worked, you can eliminate all other occurrences of those numbers anywhere else on that row (or column or square). It will probably take a minute or so to get your head round this one, but like the pairs, where we were looking for two squares that held the same two numbers exclusively, here we are looking for three squares that contain three numbers exclusively. Sometimes, the obvious simply needs to be stated, as in the case of two squares that contain 3 7 and 3 7 9. If the 3 and the 7 occur only in those two squares in a row, column or box, then either the 3 or 7 must be true in either one of the squares. So why is the 9 still in that square with what is so obviously a matching pair? Once that 9 has been eliminated, the pair matches and can now eliminate other 3s and 7s in the row, column or box. You could say this was a hidden pair. You may nd such hidden pairs in rows, columns or boxes, but when you nd one in a box, only when it has been converted to a true matching pair can you consider it as part of a row or column. Hidden trios work in exactly the same way, but are just more difcult to spot. Once you have assimilated the principle of two numbers sharing two squares exclusively or three numbers sharing three squares exclusively you will be well on the way to solving the most difcult sudokus.

Stepping up the sudoku action

The strategies discussed so far will allow you to solve all but the hardest sudoku. However, when you come to the more testing grades of tough and diabolical there are times when the logic required is much more difcult. What happens in these puzzles is that you will reach a point where there are apparently no numbers that can be solved. Let me emphasise at this juncture that the sudoku puzzles with these characteristics represent only a very small minority of puzzles. They will be among the diabolical and possibly the tough puzzles. They are valid puzzles, and many advanced sudoku solvers have devised logic schemes (and computer programs) for solving them. However, the wonderful thing about sudoku puzzles is that you dont have to be a genius or a computer programmer to solve even the most diabolical example. If you are meticulous and patient and have mastered the gentle and moderate puzzles then you can solve every Daily Telegraph puzzle. There is a logical and unique solution to each and every one. Although there are some computer programs that cry foul when they are incapable of solving some sudokus, this does not mean that you will not be able to solve them with care and by the systematic elimination of alternatives. Hundreds (if not thousands) of Daily Telegraph readers, just ordinary, intelligent people, return correct solutions to the most difcult sudokus published in the newspapers daily competition.

When all else fails

So how do they do it? Ill wager that when you started sudoku you didnt think youd be dealing with methodological analysis and bifurcation, but these are the technical terms for the process of picking a likely pair of numbers, choosing one and seeing where the number you have chosen gets you. Because you can be condent that one of the numbers will eventually produce a route to the solution, it is simply a matter of carefully analysing the options and testing your choice. If your rst choice doesnt work out then you take the alternative route. I must emphasize that this nal strategy is reserved for the most difcult of the diabolical and, occasionally, tough puzzles when all else fails. Think of a sudoku puzzle as a maze. Gentle and moderate puzzles have a simple path straight through to the exit. Tough and diabolical puzzles may have deadends which force you to try different routes. A tough puzzle may only have one of these dead ends to cope with, or it may simply have a more tortuous route to a solution. Diabolical puzzles will have at least one, and maybe more paths that you could follow before nding the number that leads to a logical exit.

Copyright 2005 Crosswords Ltd

The way to navigate this maze can be found in classical mythology, so allow me tell you a story.

Tough sudokus
In tough and diabolical sudokus there is still a beginning and an end to the maze, but now the illustration is slightly more complicated: a2 a1 b1 b2 c1 Somewhere along your route you will nd that none of your pencilled numbers provide a next step. You may look at a square at a1 where there are two options. One of the options takes you up a blind alley at a2 and you rewind your thread to a1 and choose the other number that takes you to a solution. There may be another pair at b1 that you could have chosen. One of the choices would be wrong and would take you to point b2, but the other would have been correct. Although the route is different, you end up with a solution. However, if you had chosen either of the third pair at c1, both numbers would fail to provide sufcient clues to get to the end. At a dead end you may be presented with numerous choices of pairs. Although one or other of each of these pairs will be correct in the nal solution, there is no guarantee that it will provide sufcient clues to take you through to the end of the puzzle. In a 99 tough sudoku the chances are that your rst or second choice will get you on the right track.

Ariadnes thread
As well as creating sudoku puzzles, I also compile the giant general knowledge crossword for The Daily Telegraph weekend supplement, so excuse me if I put that hat on for a few moments to remind you briey of the story of Ariadnes thread. Ariadne was the daughter of King Minos of Crete, who conquered the Athenian nation. An unfortunate intimacy between Ariadnes mother and a bull resulted in the birth of the monster half-bull, half-man called the Minotaur, who was banished to spend his days in the Labyrinth. King Minos, being something of a tyrant, called for tribute from Athens in the form of young men and women to be sacriced to the Minotaur. The young Athenian hero, Theseus, offered to accompany a group of the young unfortunates into the Labyrinth so that he could kill the Minotaur and save Athens from the cruel tribute. Ariadne fell in love with Theseus and, not wishing to see him lost in the Labyrinth once he had dealt with her bovine half-brother, she provided him with a means of escape a silken thread. Theseus had simply to unwind it while he went through the Labyrinth; should he come to a dead end he could rewind it to the point where he had made a choice of paths and continue his search using the alternative route. The scheme worked out beautifully, the Minotaur was slain, Theseus found his way back out of the Labyrinth and Ariadne . . . well, she got her ball of string back, no doubt. Replacing my sudoku hat, I hope that this tale of Ariadnes thread has served to illustrate the method used to solve tough and diabolical sudokus. Take a look at the following illustration that represents a gentle or moderate sudoku.

Your labyrinth has been straightened out in the diagram. It may not feel like it at the time, but theres just a start and nish.

Copyright 2005 Crosswords Ltd

Solving a diabolical puzzle with Ariadnes thread

In its structure there is little difference between a tough sudoku and a diabolical puzzle. The difference is that there are more places where clues can run out and more apparent dead ends. 8 4 5 69 1 2 Take the example illustrated 7 8 1 4 5 here: you can see the squares our solver has managed to 1 5 3 2 4 9 8 complete using the strategies we have discussed previously. For 9 8 5 1 claritys sake well ignore all the marks on the grid 1 8 5 9 pencil rst pair: at 1,5 weexcept for the have 6 5 9 1 3 2 8 7 either a 6 or a 9. This would be 4 the equivalent to point a1, b1 or c1 7 4 3 1 8 5 9 2 6 on our tough sudoku illustration. least 1 3 There is atcould one other pair 4 6 5 9 our solver have chosen on the grid, but this was the rst, 9 5 4 1 3 so lets be logical and use that. Our solver chooses to try the 6 9 8 4 5 69 1 3 7 2 rst, and the following diagram 6 shows the numbers she is able 2 3 7 4 9 8 1 6 5 to complete using this number in bold grey. 9 6 7

8 4 5 699 1 7 2 8 1 4 5 9 1 5 3 2 4 9 8

9 8

1 8 5 4 6 5 9 1 3 2 8 7 7 4 3 1 8 5 9 2 6 1 3 4 6 5 9 9 5 4 1 3

1 9

So our solver returns to 1,5 and tries the 9. Now we are able to prove the 9 at 2,1, but nothing else is obvious; every square is left with options. In this case we could leave both 9s, because we proved without doubt that the 6 at 1,5 could not be correct, but if the 6 had simply left us without sufcient clues, as the 9 did, we wouldnt know which was true. So, rather than start a new, uncertain path it is better to return to the situation we were in before we chose at 1,5 and nd another square to try from. This is a base we know to be true.

1 5

8 7 2 6 7 4 3 1 1 3 5 9 8 2 6 1 2 3 7 9 8 5 4

3 7 9 8 8 2 1 4 6 5 9

3 2 4 2 4 5 5 7 6 1 3 2 8 5 9 4 6 7

8 1 3 9

But with just two squares to ll, look at what we have: at 4,8 the box needs a 4 to complete it, but there is already a 4 in that row at 4,6. Similarly, at 5,4 that box needs a 6, but one already exists in that row at 5,7. No second guess was needed to prove that at 1,5 the 6 was incorrect.

6 8 4 5 9 3 2 4 1 5 7 6 3 2 9 8 8 7 1 2 4 6 5 9

9 1 36 7 2 3 7 8 1 6 5 3 2 4 9 8 6 7 5 4 1 5 4 6 3 9 1 3 2 8 7 7 4 3 1 8 5 9 2 6 1 3 5 9 8 7 4 6 1 6 3 2 9 7 5 4

In this illustration we can see that our solver looks at square 1,7 where the choice is between a 3 and a 6. Choosing the 3 she nds herself on a path that takes her to just two more to go . . . Whoops. We need a 2 to complete box 7, but theres already a 2 in that row at 9,5. In box 9 we need an 8, but theres an 8 in row 8 already. It has happened again!

Copyright 2005 Crosswords Ltd

8 4 5

4 1 5 9 8 3

1 8 5 4 6 5 9 1 7 4 3 1 8 4 5 9 9 1 3
The last word

1 6 7 2 8 1 5 2 4 9 8 5 1 9 3 2 8 7 5 9 2 6 1 3 6
5 4

36

At this point, I nd a couple of slugs of scotch help. If you still have the time or inclination, wind in the thread to get back to 1,7. 3 was chosen last time. Try 6. Ill let you nish up. Im off down the pub!

Acknowlegements
Since the rst Daily Telegraph Sudoku book was published in May many new solvers have contacted me through the website dedicated to Daily (and now Sunday) Telegraph sudoku at www.sudoku.org.uk, and Id like to thank them for their helpful suggestions and tips. I must also thank the thousands of Daily Telegraph readers who have contacted me since the puzzle rst appeared in their newspaper. Their suggestions and unbounded enthusiasm for sudoku is reected in the size of my daily postbag. Many of their comments, questions and suggestions have helped to shape this tutorial. Michael Mepham Frome, Somerset, 2005

Every day I receive a few emails from Daily Telegraph solvers who tell me how they struggled on Tuesdays moderate puzzle, but ew through the diabolical example on Friday. My answer is always that my grading of puzzles is subjective. I have no way of knowing what mistakes a solver might make, how experienced he or she is or whether he or she is suffering from a bad day or not. The same puzzle may take one person thirty minutes and another two hours, and its not always down to the level of experience of the solver. Also, some people have an innate ability to spot the clues. With practice, others develop this ability without realising it. No matter how good or bad you are at sudoku, what I can guarantee is that these puzzles will give you a good mental workout. As keep t for the brain, in my experience as a puzzle setter, sudoku is as good as it gets. Have fun.

Now try some examples...

Copyright 2005 Crosswords Ltd

Sample Sudoku

4 2 2 7 1 7 1 4 7 4

2 6 7 1 2 3

5 3 9 4 6 3
Crosswords Ltd, 2005

GENTLE
Easily solved with simple logic. The difference between these and Moderate puzzles may sometimes seem marginal. Ratings must be subjective, as there is no way of knowing the skill level of the solver. Ease of solving depend on your skill levels, so even a gentle puzzle may feel tough to a beginner. But dont worry, after the rst few numbers have been found youll be solving like a veteran in no time.

1 9 6

TOUGH
Should give an experienced solver some entertainment.

#5232

7 3 5 8 2 7 6 2 1 7 1 3 2 4 8

8 5 3 7 6 1 3 4 9 5 4 1 4 2 5 7 9 1 8 4 7 7 9 2 6 2 6

MODERATE
Will require some skill and practice.

8 1 7 7 3 5 8 4 6 1 7 4 4 7 5 8

4 6 5

Copyright 2005 Crosswords Ltd

#5329

9 7 8 3 1 5 8 6 7 5 3 7 5 1 7 1 2 6 3 5 4 8

DIABOLICAL
Be prepared for multiple seeming dead ends that require advanced solving strategies or intelligent guessing. This example is as hard as you will ever get in a newspaper or book, but they can be much more difcult.

Crosswords Ltd, 2005

9 5 7

Solutions

8 4 7 2 5 6 9 1 3 7 8 5 9 2 6 4 1 3

1 6 9 4 3 8 7 2 5 3 4 9 1 5 8 6 7 2

3 2 5 7 9 1 8 6 4 6 2 1 7 4 3 9 5 8

4 5 3 1 8 2 6 7 9 2 6 7 5 9 1 3 8 4

2 7 6 5 4 9 1 3 8 9 5 8 3 6 4 1 2 7

9 1 8 3 6 7 5 4 2 1 3 4 8 7 2 5 9 6

7 8 1 9 2 4 3 5 6 4 9 6 2 1 7 8 3 5

6 3 4 8 1 5 2 9 7 5 7 3 4 8 9 2 6 1

5 9 2 6 7 3 4 8 1 8 1 2 6 3 5 7 4 9

GENTLE

3 6 8 1 2 5 4 9 7 2 4 8 3 6 5 7 9 1

4 9 5 3 7 6 2 1 8 9 3 7 8 1 4 6 2 5

1 2 7 4 8 9 5 6 3 5 1 6 7 2 9 3 8 4

9 1 4 2 5 7 3 8 6 7 8 1 4 3 2 5 6 9

2 8 6 9 3 1 7 4 5 4 6 9 5 8 1 2 7 3

7 5 3 6 4 8 1 2 9 3 5 2 9 7 6 4 1 8

5 7 1 8 6 4 9 3 2 8 9 5 2 4 7 1 3 6

6 3 9 7 1 2 8 5 4 6 2 4 1 9 3 8 5 7

8 4 2 5 9 3 6 7 1 1 7 3 6 5 8 9 4 2

TOUGH

MODERATE

DIABOLICAL

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sudoku worksheet

sudoku worksheet

Copyright 2005 Crosswords Ltd